BADMINTON

Francis Angelo Bastes

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HISTORY
The game of badminton originated in Siam,
China over 2,000 years ago. It was brought to
England in 1870 and was played somewhat
like tennis. After being played in Canada,
badminton arrived in America and has been
popular since 1929. Since 1992, badminton
has been an Olympic sport, with bird speeds
reaching 100 m.p.h.

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NATURE OF THE
GAME
Badminton is played as a singles or doubles game with
one or two players on a side. The object of the game is
to hit the shuttlecock or “bird” back and forth with a
racket across a net five feet high at its center. The bird
should be hit with such speed and accuracy that the
opponent is unable to return the shot successfully. The
game can either be fast or slow paced, depending on
the skill level of the players.

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FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
• Racket
The badminton racket is one of the most important tools a player has in the game. Badminton rackets are much lighter than
most other sports rackets because they are made from materials such as carbon fiber or lighter metals such as aluminum.
• Shuttlecock
The badminton shuttlecock, also referred to as a shuttle or birdie, acts similarly to a ball in other racket sports. However, the
design of the birdie creates more drag as it is propelled through the air due to its feathered shape.
• Net
A mesh net divides the badminton court into two sides. A badminton net is placed lower than a volleyball net at five feet and
one inch high on the sides and five feet high in the center
• Facilities
The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and 44 feet long by 17 feet wide for singles. If the
facility is indoors, there needs to be enough height for the shuttlecock to be able to float across the net without hitting the
ceiling. This height will vary depending on the strength of the players.